to have and to hold-第52章

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　laid　it　upon　the　window　ledge　beside　my　hand。　〃I　have　brought　you　evil　gifts；　…　foes　and　strife　and　peril。　Will　you　take　this　little　purple　flower　…　and　all　my　heart　beside？〃

I　bent　and　kissed　first　the　tiny　blossom；　and　then　the　lips　that　had　proffered　it。　〃I　am　very　rich；〃　I　said。

The　sun　was　now　low；　and　the　pines　in　the　square　and　the　upright　of　the　pillory　cast　long　shadows。　The　wind　had　fallen　and　the　sounds　had　died　away。　It　seemed　very　still。　Nothing　moved　but　the　creeping　shadows　until　a　flight　of　small　white…breasted　birds　went　past　the　window。　〃The　snow　is　gone；〃　I　said。　〃The　snowbirds　are　flying　north。〃

〃The　woods　will　soon　be　green；〃　she　murmured　wistfully。　〃Ah；　if　we　could　ride　through　them　once　more；　back　to　Weyanoke〃　…

〃To　home；〃　I　said。

〃Home；〃　she　echoed　softly。

There　was　a　low　knocking　at　the　door　behind　us。　〃It　is　Master　Rolfe's　signal；〃　she　said。　〃I　must　not　stay。　Tell　me　that　you　love　me；　and　let　me　go。〃

I　drew　her　closer　to　me　and　pressed　my　lips　upon　her　bowed　head。　〃Do　you　not　know　that　I　love　you？〃　I　asked。

〃Yea；〃　she　answered。　〃I　have　been　taught　it。　Tell　me　that　you　believe　that　God　will　be　good　to　us。　Tell　me　that　we　shall　be　happy　yet；　for　oh；　I　have　a　boding　heart　this　day！〃

Her　voice　broke；　and　she　lay　trembling　in　my　arms；　her　face　hidden。　〃If　the　summer　never　comes　for　us〃　…　she　whispered。　〃Good…by；　my　lover　and　my　husband。　If　I　have　brought　you　ruin　and　death；　I　have　brought　you；　too；　a　love　that　is　very　great。　Forgive　me　and　kiss　me；　and　let　me　go。〃

〃Thou　art　my　dearly　loved　and　honored　wife；〃　I　said。　〃My　heart　forebodes　summer；　and　joy；　and　peace；　and　home。〃

We　kissed　each　other　solemnly；　as　those　who　part　for　a　journey　and　a　warfare。　I　spoke　no　word　to　Rolfe　when　the　door　was　opened　and　she　had　passed　out　with　her　cloak　drawn　about　her　face；　but　we　clasped　hands；　and　each　knew　the　other　for　his　friend　indeed。　They　were　gone；　the　gaoler　closing　and　locking　the　door　behind　them。　As　for　me；　I　went　back　to　the　settle　beneath　the　window；　and；　falling　on　my　knees　beside　it；　buried　my　face　in　my　arms。



CHAPTER　XXIX　　IN　WHICH　I　KEEP　TRYST


THE　sun　dropped　below　the　forest；　blood　red；　dyeing　the　river　its　own　color。　There　were　no　clouds　in　the　sky；　…　only　a　great　suffusion　of　crimson　climbing　to　the　zenith；　against　it　the　woods　were　as　black　as　war　paint。　The　color　faded　and　the　night　set　in；　a　night　of　no　wind　and　of　numberless　stars。　On　the　hearth　burned　a　fire。　I　left　the　window　and　sat　beside　it；　and　in　the　hollows　between　the　red　embers　made　pictures；　as　I　used　to　make　them　when　I　was　a　boy。

I　sat　there　long。　It　grew　late；　and　all　sounds　in　the　town　were　hushed；　only　now　and　then　the　〃All's　well！〃　of　the　watch　came　faintly　to　my　ears。　Diccon　lodged　with　me；　he　lay　in　his　clothes　upon　a　pallet　in　the　far　corner　of　the　room；　but　whether　he　slept　or　not　I　did　not　ask。　He　and　I　had　never　wasted　words；　since　chance　had　thrown　us　together　again　we　spoke　only　when　occasion　required。

The　fire　was　nigh　out；　and　it　must　have　been　ten　of　the　clock　when；　with　somewhat　more　of　caution　and　less　of　noise　than　usual；　the　key　grated　in　the　lock；　the　door　opened；　and　the　gaoler　entered；　closing　it　noiselessly　behind　him。　There　was　no　reason　why　he　should　intrude　himself　upon　me　after　nightfall；　and　I　regarded　him　with　a　frown　and　an　impatience　that　presently　turned　to　curiosity。

He　began　to　move　about　the　room；　making　pretense　　of　seeing　that　there　was　water　in　the　pitcher　beside　my　pallet；　that　the　straw　beneath　the　coverlet　was　fresh；　that　the　bars　of　the　window　were　firm；　and　ended　by　approaching　the　fire　and　heaping　pine　upon　it。　It　flamed　up　brilliantly；　and　in　the　strong　red　light　he　half　opened　a　clenched　hand　and　showed　me　two　gold　pieces；　and　beneath　them　a　folded　paper。　I　looked　at　his　furtive　eyes　and　brutal；　doltish　face；　but　he　kept　them　blank　as　a　wall。　The　hand　closed　again　over　the　treasure　within　it；　and　he　turned　away　as　if　to　leave　the　room。　I　drew　a　noble　…　one　of　a　small　store　of　gold　pieces　conveyed　to　me　by　Rolfe　…　from　my　pocket；　and　stooping　made　it　spin　upon　the　hearth　in　the　red　firelight。　The　gaoler　looked　at　it　askance；　but　continued　his　progress　toward　the　door。　I　drew　out　its　fellow；　set　it　too　to　spinning；　then　leaned　back　against　the　table。　〃They　hunt　in　couples；〃　I　said。　〃There　will　be　no　third　one。〃

He　had　his　foot　upon　them　before　they　had　done　spinning。　The　next　moment　they　had　kissed　the　two　pieces　already　in　his　possession；　and　he　had　transferred　all　four　to　his　pocket。　I　held　out　my　hand　for　the　paper；　and　he　gave　it　to　me　grudgingly；　with　a　spiteful　slowness　of　movement。　He　would　have　stayed　beside　me　as　I　read　it；　but　I　sternly　bade　him　keep　his　distance；　then　kneeling　before　the　fire　to　get　the　light；　I　opened　the　paper。　It　was　written　upon　in　a　delicate；　woman's　hand；　and　it　ran　thus：　…

　An　you　hold　me　dear；　come　to　me　at　once。　Come　without　tarrying　to　the　deserted　hut　on　the　neck　of　land；　nearest　to　the　forest。　As　you　love　me；　as　you　are　my　knight；　keep　this　tryst。

In　distress　and　peril；　　THY　WIFE。

Folded　with　it　was　a　line　in　the　commander's　hand　and　with　his　signature：　〃The　bearer　may　pass　without　the　palisade　at　his　pleasure。〃

I　read　the　first　paper　again；　refolded　it；　and　rose　to　my　feet。　〃Who　brought　this；　sirrah？〃　I　demanded。

His　answer　was　glib　enough：　〃One　of　the　governor's　servants。　He　said　as　how　there　was　no　harm　in　the　letter；　and　the　gold　was　good。〃

〃When　was　this？〃

〃Just　now。　No；　I　did　n't　know　the　man。〃

I　saw　no　way　to　discover　whether　or　not　he　lied。　Drawing　out　another　gold　piece；　I　laid　it　upon　the　table。　He　eyed　it　greedily；　edging　nearer　and　nearer。

〃For　leaving　this　door　unlocked；〃　I　said。

His　eyes　narrowed　and　he　moistened　his　lips；　shifting　from　one　foot　to　the　other。

I　put　down　a　second　piece。　〃For　opening　the　outer　door；〃　I　said。

He　wet　his　lips　again；　made　an　inarticulate　sound　in　his　throat；　and　finally　broke　out　with；　〃The　commander　will　nail　my　ears　to　the　pillory。〃

〃You　can　lock　the　doors　after　me；　and　know　as　little　as　you　choose　in　the　morning。　No　gain　without　some　risk。〃

〃That's　so；〃　he　agreed；　and　made　a　clutch　at　the　gold。

I　swept　it　out　of　his　reach。　〃First　earn　it；〃　I　said　dryly。　〃Look　at　the　foot　of　the　pillory　an　hour　from　now　and　you'll　find　it。　I'll　not　pay　you　this　side　of　the　doors。〃

He　bit　his　lips　and　studied　the　floor。　〃You're　a　gentleman；〃　he　growled　at　last。　〃I　suppose　I　can　trust　ye。〃

〃I　suppose　you　can。〃

Taking　up　his　lantern　he　turned　toward　the　door。　〃It　's　growing　late；〃　he　said；　with　a　most　uncouth　attempt　to　feign　a　guileless　drowsiness。　〃I'll　to　bed；　captain；　when　I've　locked　up。　Good…night　to　ye！〃

He　was　gone；　and　the　door　was　left　unlocked。　I　could　walk　out　of　that　gaol　as　I　could　have　walked　out　of　my　house　at　Weyanoke。　I　was　free；　but　should　I　take　my　freedom？　Going　back　to　the　light　of　the　fire　I　unfolded　the　paper　and　stared　at　it；　turning　its　contents　this　way　and　that　in　my　mind。　The　hand　…　but　once　had　I　seen　her　writing；　and　then　it　had　been　wrought　with　a　shell　upon　firm　sand。　I　could　not　judge　if　this　were　the　same。　Had　the　paper　indeed　come　from　her？　Had　it　not？　If　in　truth　it　was　a　message　from　my　wife；　what　had　befallen　in　a　few　hours　since　our　parting？　If　it　was　a　forger's　lie；　what　trap　was　set；　what　toils　were　laid？　I　walked　up　and　down；　and　tried　to　think　it　out。　The　strangeness　of　it　all；　the　choice　of　a　lonely　and　distant　hut　for　trysting　place；　that　pass　coming　from　a　sworn　officer　of　the　Company；　certain　things　I　had　heard　that　day　。　。　。　A　trap　。　。　。　and　to　walk　into　it　with　my　eyes　open。　。　。　。　An　you　hold　me　dear。　As　you　are　my　knight；　keep　this　tryst。　In　distress　and　peril。　。　。　e　what　might；　there　was　a　risk　I　could　not　run。

I　had　no　weapons　to　assume；　no　preparations　to　make。　Gathering　up　the　gaoler's　gold　I　started　toward　the　door；　opened　it；　and　going　out　would　have　closed　it　softly　behind　me　but　that　a　booted　leg　thrust　across　the　jamb　prevented　me。　〃I　am　going　with　you；〃　said　Diccon　in　a　guarded　voice。　〃If　you　try　to　prevent　me；　I　will　rouse　the　house。〃　His　head　was　thrown　back　in　the　old　way；　the　old　daredevil　look　was　upon　his　face。　〃I　don't　know　why　you　are　　going；〃　he　decl